She couldn’t help but laugh.She’d never picked up a stranger at a bar before, but she was fairly sure they didn’t usually look as gorgeous as him or offer to go out for an ice cream instead of a drink.
“Something tells me that won’t mix very well with the bourbon I had earlier,” she said and gestured down the sidewalk toward the inn.“Shall we?”
He fell into step next to her and his size became more obvious.At five foot eight with cowgirl boots on, she wasn’t exactly petite, but he was at least six three, with a muscular build.And his shoulders seemed wide enough that he might need to turn when he entered a doorway.
“You said you were just passing through.What for?”
He rubbed his hand down his jaw.“Just some business prospects, but I don’t think things will work out here.”
Looking down she noticed his boots.They weren’t just any kind, they were a specific brand a lot of people who worked with horses tended to wear.
“You work in ranching?”
“I grew up on a ranch.My mama was a wrangler.”
“And you’re definitely from some red-dirt Georgia town with that accent,” she commented as they arrived outside the inn.
His smile was like a prize she hadn’t known she wanted to win, and she took a chance on making a move before she got too nervous.Stepping closer she put her hand on his chest and reached up to lift his ball cap off his head.“I don’t really want another drink, but I do want you to invite me to your room so you can kiss me like you did back at the bar again.Only this time all over.”
He reached down to gently grip her chin with his hand.“You sure are blunt.”
“I don’t want there to be any misinterpretations.”
“What if that kiss was just a fluke?”he said before leaning down to press his lips to hers again.The kiss started off tentative, as if he needed to confirm the heat they’d shared earlier was real.But as they started to devolve into a deep, hungry exploration of each other’s mouths and his hands slid down her back to grip her bottom, it was clear whatever was going on between them hadn’t been a fluke.Then just as suddenly he ended the kiss and took her hand in his large one before pulling her inside the hotel.As they walked past the front desk holding hands, she put his ball cap on and kept her head down.
Maybe if she didn’t look anyone in the eyes they wouldn’t recognize her.But at this point everyone in this town already thought the worst of her, so why shouldn’t she enjoy a little of her bad reputation for once.It was time for her to see what all the fuss was about, and why not let that be with a tall, dark, handsome stranger who was only in town for one night.
The inn was a two-story old farmhouse converted into a hotel, and apparently he had a suite on the second floor.They each took the stairs two at a time and he didn’t let go of her hand until they were standing outside his room at the end of the hall.After he dug out his key he opened the door for her, and then they were tucked away in the privacy of his suite.The room had a modern country vibe, with a large four-poster bed, wood floors, and oversized black and white prints of horses on the walls.
Before she could even think of something to say, he was pulling her toward him, and she was grateful he didn’t feel the need to make mindless chitchat.That wasn’t why they were doing this.She didn’t even know his name, and she didn’t care.When he was gone tomorrow it wouldn’t matter.
His hands were warm and huge as they moved down her arms, to her hips before they slid over her curves to grip her bottom again—clearly, he was a butt man.Even with all his clothes still on she could feel how muscular his body was as she pushed her hands over his shoulders.It was obvious he either worked with his hands or spent a lot of time in the gym.
Before she could dwell on it, he was hiking her up to straddle his waist and moved to sit on the end of the bed with her in his lap.He took her face in his hands and moved her hair back off her neck before his mouth began to explore the space below her ear.He smelled like vanilla and a spice she couldn’t name.
“I don’t usually do this,” he breathed.“But you might be the most intoxicating woman I’ve ever met.”
She couldn’t help but smile.She’d never done this, but she wasn’t about to admit it.Her entire life was built on one strategy—fake it until she made it or at least convinced the others she had.She pulled at the hem of his T-shirt and was rewarded with the feel of carved abs, and his warm, smooth, tan skin.
“Are you, like, a fitness model?Your body is insane,” she said breathless from the excitement.
“No, I just work out.”
“God bless,” she breathed as she pulled his shirt over his head, ruffling his dark hair.And they both stopped to look at each other.
“I don’t have a condom,” he said with a pained look on his face.
But she reached into her back pocket and pulled out the one thing that could have stopped her from doing this, so she’d made sure to buy one in the bar bathroom.
“Looks like I saved our night,” she teased.
In the next moment he stood back up while holding her and flipped her onto her back on the bed.Careful to use his very ripped muscles to support himself, he hovered over her.“Good—now I can give you what we’re both craving.”
He stood to pull her boots off, setting them on the side of the bed, and kicked his own off.Then he reached to unbutton her jeans and slowly slid those down her thighs.He was doing all the work undressing them both.She was so nervous her heart was pounding as she sat up and pulled her T-shirt up over her head.Then she pulled her hair free from her ponytail, letting her thick locks loose to hang down her back, teasing her bare skin.She looked up to watch him unbuckle his belt, unbutton his jeans, and slide them to the floor.
She could see a huge bulge under his boxer briefs and wondered how someone his size was actually going to fit inside her, but there was no way she was going to stop this now.She needed this man and tonight was their night.
Scooting back further up the bed she smiled.“So, you are a cowboy,” she said pointing to the horseshoe tattoo he had on his shoulder.
